[Sentai]

The Pilgrimage
Part One


“You wished to see me Father?” Her knees settled down upon the soft cushion, knelt there in the main room of the Shiba House. Hands laid within her lap. Delicately, one atop the other, while watching her Father slowly pace the room. She still wore the black kimono she’d taken to wearing since her defeat. With her hair pulled back into that single long braid. And, of course, the Bat Zord perched upon her shoulder. Watching Ji pace with the same interest as his Mistress.
Of course Ji wanted to see her. He called her here, after all. But he hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with why. Which made her worry. Already thinking back on the weeks since she was defeated, and began trying to walk a different path. She’d been helping rebuild the sections of the city she helped destroy. Had been spending time with the people hurt, and trying to walk a better road. But the way he paced now made her think she’d done something else. “Father.” She said finally. “Please just be out with it, your pacing is… making me nervous.”
That made him pause. Taking a noticeable heavy sigh, enough she watched as his shoulders sunk a full six inches. “The elders of the temple have decided your penance is nearly over, Kyoko.” That surprised her, but didn’t explain why he looked so worried. “And, Father?”
“And it’s been decided that as your final act you must wander. In the world there are five parts of a Morpher, one which will becomes yours if you find all the pieces. Each protected by a different guardian from an age passed. … If you fail, you are never allowed to return again. Nor keep your Zord.”
And now she understood his apprehension. “.. When do I leave?” She knew she hadn’t the choice, they would strip her of her friend if she didn’t leave. Didn’t mean she was looking forward to this however.

The answer was the following morning. Which found her knelt beside her bed carefully packing everything she thought she might need, all into one duffle she could carry easily. Her sword, her black disc, but she wasn’t allowed her Zord companion. That bothered her but she understood. One change of clothes, one spare pair of shoes and socks. The sword she could carry on her back separately, so that created enough room she could fit one or two notebooks. But that was all.
She could already hear them outside.. So ready to send her off. Not her Father. She understood he didn’t want her to go, and honestly wanted her around. It was the others. Not that she blamed them, to be perfectly honest. She did try and kill each and every single one of them. .. Still wasn’t easy to see them all gathered to make sure she was honestly leaving.
But she walked out regardless. Watching as her Zord was called by her father, and landed perfectly folded into his palm. “I remembered you said he needed to stay, Father. He was only seeing me off.” He nodded, but still.
“We will speak again when you return, Kyoko.” She leaned into his hug while giving him an understanding nod. The rest of them, well, she just ignored the rest of them. They all seemed rather content she was leaving aside from Emily. But she was soft..

The Northern Wood. A lot of the people from the City avoided these woods, and she couldn’t understand why. She was surrounded by beauty. Trees which stretched on until they almost touched the sky itself, with long tendrils of sunlight pouring through the leafy canopy above her. The gentle mist which wrapped around each trunk and laid across the ground like an ethereal blanket. She found the woods rather peaceful, honestly. But she wasn’t here to enjoy scenery. She was here to find the first piece of her new Morpher, and learn some life lesson.
Kyoko took a deep breath, deciding enjoying the forest one more moment couldn’t hurt, and leaned herself back against an old oak. .. And ended up grunting on her back! “… The Hell?!” Kyoko rose herself onto her knees, resting her backside down against her heels, while rubbing a hand along the new sore spot behind her head. “How did I just fall through a blasted tree…?” She still had everything. Her duffle was beside her, her wrapped sword beside that, and she seemed uninjured.. Aside from the bump.
“You should be more careful, that first step is a killer.” The voice had strength. And when she turned her head she could understand why. The man wore golden armor, with a flowing blue cape behind him. This had to be the first guardian, she thought, but she wasn’t going to take chances. That was why she reached for her wrapped sword. Not taking off the black silk covering the sword, just holding her weapon ready.. “.. My name is Kyoko. I’ve come to prove myself before the Guardian.”
And the man just chuckled. “Who else would I be?” That was when the man struck his pose. Raising his right hand, twisting his open palm as he announced himself. “Power of the Sun, I am.. Solaris Knight!”